Kathy Shepard appointed vice president -- corporate communications for Hilton Hotel

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. / Kathy Shepard has been appointed vice president -- corporate communications for Hilton Hotels Corp.

Shepard most recently served as director of corporate communications for the company, a position she has held since May 1996.

Shepard's responsibilities include corporate media relations, internal corporate communications and coordination of corporate contributions for the company, as well as supervising public relations activities for Hilton's gaming operations. Shepard reports to Marc Grossman, senior vice president -- corporate affairs.

Shepard first joined Hilton in 1993 as director of public relations for the Las Vegas Hilton, and later served as director of communications for Hilton Gaming. Prior to her association with Hilton, she owned an entertainment public relations agency in Los Angeles. She also worked as director of publicity for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and was an on-air writer/producer at KTTV television in Los Angeles.

Shepard earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Boise State University in Idaho. She also completed the public relations certification program at the University of California, Los Angeles. She and her husband live in Santa Monica, Calif.

Hilton Hotels Corp. is recognized internationally as the pre-eminent gaming and hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises hotel casinos, resorts, vacation ownership and hotel properties.